DAMASCUS, Syria -- Syrian President Bashar Assad announced Thursday that his country has handed over proposals for peace with Israel to Turkish mediators and would wait for Israel's response before holding any face-to-face negotiations. Assad said the document was intended to serve as a basis for direct talks and that he was waiting for a similar document laying out Israel's positions. So far, negotiations have been held indirectly through Turkish mediation. Assad spoke Thursday at a summit with the leaders of France, Turkey and Qatar to discuss Mideast ... (more)